How Marginalised Ethiopian Farmers are Advancing Technology for Food Security
Through support from the RISA Fund (Research and Innovation Systems for Africa), the University of Gondar is driving inclusive development in agricultural innovation – boosting productivity, empowering women and marginalised farmers, and strengthening food security in Ethiopia’s northwest region.
Bayat Wubie, is a farmer from the town of Mitriha Kebele. As a mother of six and the sole breadwinner, she worked tirelessly to put food on the table and pay for school fees for her children. Like many farmers in Northwest Ethiopia, Bayat used traditional seed, had little formal training on agriculture practices, and no access to modern agriculture tools, which led to small harvests and unstable income. That was the situation, until a partnership between the University of Gondar and RISA Fund supported her and other farmers to modernise her farm and find new stable methods to support her family.
“With the new improved rice seed and modern farming techniques which I learned, my harvest has doubled compared to last year,” Bayat shared. “This project changed my life. I can now provide for my family and send my children to school.”
What made this possible was the University of Gondar’s role in bridging cutting-edge agricultural research with real-world farming. The improved Selam rice seed Bayat planted was developed after years of research by the Fogera Rice Research Centre, and it was University of Gondar that brought these seeds from lab to land. Before the project, Bayat could not afford fertiliser nor improved seeds and had to rent out her land to other farmers, harvesting only a third of the produce herself. Now, she cultivates her one hectare of land independently, harvesting about 5,500kg of improved Selam rice a year. She sells the majority while reserving some for home-use and making a modest saving for herself. This financial turnaround has allowed her to send her eldest daughter to college and plan comfortably for the next planting season.
Through this RISA-funded initiative, Bayat and her farmer-neighbours gained access to comprehensive training in modern farming techniques, high-quality seeds, essential agricultural resources, and a support network of fellow farmers.
Bayat is one of 200 farmers – many who are either single mothers or persons with disabilities – supported by RISA between January 2023 – May 2025 to improve agricultural production of rice, honey and avocado, providing a vital stable income for everyone.
The University of Gondar, supported by RISA, funded by the UK’s FCDO and managed by Chemonics UK, helped develop gender-inclusive innovation and dissemination guidelines and set up a platform where government, research institutes, private sector, and local communities share ideas and co-create solutions. These 27 institutions – including ministries, research centres, universities, NGOs, and farmer representatives – co-designed and introduced new approaches like integrated rice-fish farming, improved post-harvest storage, and climate-resilient crops. Importantly, they facilitated farmers’ use, sustain, and scale what they learned.
These collaborative efforts are strengthening the local research and innovation ecosystem – connecting farmers with institutions, researchers, and markets in ways that ensure long-term resilience and sustainability.
And the results have been long-lasting and meaningful.
The project prioritised women and people with disabilities, selecting and adapting technologies to suit their needs and ensure ease of use. Innovations included seed varieties that increased yield by 71% compared to traditional seeds, a portable solar irrigation system usable even by individuals with physical disabilities, honey harvesting tools that increased the yield and quality of honey and reduced the risk of bee stings.
The University of Gondar supported 50 female-headed households, including Bayat, by providing certified rice seed varieties, fertilizers, and practical training through demonstrations. Among the beneficiaries, many planted locally known Selam and Shaga rice varieties. These improved seeds commanded prices that were 25% higher in the market, enabling the farmers to increase their earnings and boost their savings.
“Since improved rice variety has provided us with a high yield, I’m able to get better output which helps me to sell to other farmers, and family members, and to reserve enough seeds for the next planting season. As an improved variety of seeds is selling at a higher price in the market, it gives me a better opportunity to earn income, save money, and cover my children’s schooling,” Bayat explained.
The University of Gondar is working closely with grassroot stakeholders to sustain the project’s impact by providing technical support and strengthening farmer cooperatives.
University of Gondar allocated land through the Gondar Zuria Office of Agriculture for rice seed multiplication. Pre-basic improved seed, sourced from the Fogera Rice Research Centre, was distributed to 20 selected farmers to multiply. The resulting seed will be returned to the cooperatives at fair prices, helping them generate income and support future activities.
To complement this, University of Gondar has allocated funding to construct a warehouse for rice milling and parboiling technologies. Capacity-building training is also being provided to cooperative members. These efforts demonstrates that improved agricultural technologies are not only adopted, but also transformed into sustainable, income-generating systems – marking a key shift from research to commercialisation.
As at date, all the 200 farmers who received support through this initiative are still active. Bayat and other farmers find the initiative as transformative, enabling economic security for families and the region.
Beyond farms, the project’s influence has reached local government planning and university programming. It is promoting gender equality and inclusion for a more resilient food production in Ethiopia and ecosystem-level partnerships that RISA is designed to build.